Hidden Danger of Complexity Bias
- Dan Head
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
In safety management, there’s a strange irony that plays out daily: the obvious solution gets ignored in favor of the more complicated and usually less effective.
It’s called complexity bias: the human tendency to prefer complex solutions over simple ones, even when the simple fix is more efficient, affordable, and proven.
Nowhere is this more dangerous (or expensive) than in slip and fall prevention.
The Cost of Overcomplicating Safety
Every year, businesses pour thousands into slip and fall prevention efforts that look impressive on paper but fail to tackle the real problem. Meanwhile, the most effective, proven solutions go untouched.
A examples of complexity bias in the real world:
Tech Before Traction: Some businesses invest in high-tech AI cameras or fall-detection sensors to monitor slip incidents. While these tools have value, they often come after the fact - and they don’t prevent falls. A professional non-slip floor treatment can reduce slip risk at the source, for a fraction of the cost.
Posters Over Prevention: Safety signs and awareness campaigns are important, but they’re not enough. Training people to “be careful” doesn’t fix the root hazard. Improving surface friction does.
More Handrails, No Floor Fixes: It’s common to see warning signs and handrails go up where slip risks are known - but if the floor is still slick, the hazard remains. Fix the floor first. Everything else is backup.
Blaming Footwear Instead of Flooring: Non-slip footwear policies for staff can help, but they don’t protect guests, visitors, or vendors. Improving the floor’s slip resistance helps everyone, not just the people on payroll.
Simple = Smart (and Safer)
The most powerful safety solutions are often the least flashy. They don’t involve buzzwords or dashboards. They just work.
When it comes to slip and fall prevention, here’s the truth:
Fix the floor, and the risk goes away.
At Safeguard Floors, we specialize in real, physical solutions that reduce slip risk where it matters most - under your feet. No gimmicks. Just results.
Don’t Overthink It. Fix It.
If you’re responsible for guest safety, employee well-being, or compliance - start with the surface. We’ll help you make it safer, for good.
Contact us to learn more about our proven non-slip floor treatment and how it can prevent injuries, lawsuits, and downtime - without overcomplicating your safety plan.
